Police arrest Dover suspect in bar attack: Accused of assaulting man in Ports., who later died from fractured skull

Wednesday

Apr 10, 2013 at 3:15 AM

By Jim Haddadinjhaddadin@fosters.com

PORTSMOUTH — A 24-year-old Dover man accused of attacking another patron at a Portsmouth bar, fracturing his skull and potentially causing his death, will appear in court this morning.

Zachary O’Neill, of 12 New York St., will be arraigned on a first-degree assault charge today in Portsmouth Circuit Court at 8:30 a.m. in connection with an attack early Saturday morning.

O’Neill allegedly struck the victim, Joshua Krantz, in the head with his fist while the two were at The Page, a bar and restaurant in Portsmouth. Police say the attack was unprovoked, and Krantz was hit from behind while he was on the dance floor on the lower level of the business.

“I don’t want people thinking that this was a bar fight where somebody got the bad end of the stick, so to speak,” Portsmouth Police Deputy Chief Corey MacDonald said.

Police said Krantz, a 2006 Epping High School graduate, was visiting the bar with friends on Friday night. The bar did not report the incident to police, and Krantz left without seeking medical treatment, MacDonald said. Krantz returned to his apartment on Hill Street in Dover, where he was found dead by roommates later Saturday morning.

Dover police were called to his apartment to investigate the unattended death at about 11:30 a.m., MacDonald said. A preliminary investigation revealed Krantz died of a fractured skull, leading to an epidural hematoma.

The state medical examiner’s office has yet to issue a ruling regarding the manner of Krantz’s death. Police say the charge against O’Neill could be upgraded if the death is ruled a homicide.

After reviewing surveillance camera footage of the incident, The Page co-owner Ted Mountzuris said it appears Krantz was “sucker punched” as the bar was preparing to clear patrons for the evening. Mountzuris said he still can’t figure out a motive for the attack.

“This kid just came out of nowhere and hit him,” Mountzuris said, “and from what I’m being told by the detectives, alcohol was not a factor in any of this.”

Mountzuris said detectives told him Krantz declined medical attention, then went upstairs, found friends and left the bar.

“My heart and prayers go out to the family of Josh,” Mountzuris said. “I didn’t know him that well, but I knew when he would come in to the establishment, and that he was a good boy. He was a very good boy. He wasn’t a troubled type of kid who came in.”

O’Neill is about 6 feet tall, and weighs about 200 pounds, according to information provided by Portsmouth police. He was asked to leave The Page by staff after Saturday morning’s incident, police said.

Police issued an arrest warrant for O’Neill on Tuesday afternoon. He was arrested in Rochester by New Hampshire State Police later in the evening. O’Neill was located at a family member’s home on Main Street.

Before his arrest, O’Neill lived for a time at an apartment in New York Street in Dover. A man who answered the door there Tuesday evening said O’Neill moved out several weeks ago. He declined to comment publicly on the circumstances.

“It’s getting blown way out of proportion,” the man said.

Krantz enjoyed football growing up, according to his obituary. He played first with Nor-Rock Pop Warner program in junior high school, then went on to play four years for the Epping High School team.

After graduating, Krantz earned an associate degree in business management from Great Bay Community College in Portsmouth, according to the obituary. He was hired as an enrollment account specialist at Bottomline Technologies in Portsmouth last summer.

“Josh was an avid outdoorsman, who particularly loved hunting, fishing and boating. He also liked music and was a DJ at local clubs and for his friends’ parties,” the obituary read.

Krantz is also survived by his sister, two grandmothers, aunt, uncles and cousins.

Memorial calling hours will be from 2-4 p.m. and from 6-8 p.m. today, April 10, at the Brewitt Funeral Home, 9 Pleasant St., Epping. A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, April 11, at the Epping Community Church on Pleasant Street.

An investigation into the incident is ongoing. Police encourage anyone who witnessed the events to contact Portsmouth police Detective Kristyn Bernier at 603-610-7529.

Tips can also be left anonymously by contacting Seacoast Crime Stoppers at 603-431-1199, or online at seacoastcrimestoppers.org. Tips can also be sent by SMS text by sending a message to CRIMES (274637) with the letters TIPSCS in the body of the message. People who provide information that leads to an arrest or indictment are eligible for cash rewards of up to $1,000.